Party in Pink Zumbathon Comes Back to Baton Rouge

Six years ago, Dr. Treva Brown decided to honor her late aunt, Julia Jones, who passed from metastatic breast cancer. “I took her passing hard as I had just begun my new journey of grad school,” Brown says, “but my parents always taught me to be strong no matter how many times I had to shed tears in private.”

As she sat, wondering what more she could do for her aunt’s memory, Zumba came out with a program to raise money for breast cancer prevention research. “Without hesitation, I knew this is how I wanted to preserve her memory,” Brown says, “by doing what I’m passionate about, dance, and raising money for research that I would soon play a role in during my graduate school career.”

Brown (lime green) teaching a Zumba Class at the LSU Lakes

With $53 in her account, and help from family, friends and fellow Zumba instructors, Party in Pink Baton Rouge was formed.

Party in Pink is a global movement dedicated to raising funds for Susan G. Komen and the fight against breast cancer. According to Brown, the proceeds that are raised go directly towards the Breast Cancer Prevention Research Grant. Through the Zumbathon charity event hosted by licensed Zumba Instructors, Party in Pink celebrates and honor friends and family members navigating breast cancer, and inspire them to join in the fight.

After the first Party in Pink, Brown moved to New Orleans due to grad school obligations. During the next four years it grew to over 200 attendees. Now that Brown has completed graduate school, she is ready to bring the event back to where it all started, in Baton Rouge. “It’s a great way to get involved and to give back to the community,” says Brown, “it’s what we need.”

Be sure to save the date for Party in Pink Baton Rouge on October 6, 2018. The event will be from 10 am to 12pm at the Southern University Intramural Sports Complex. The event is free and open to all ages. It is asked that all participants wear pink workout attire and bring a donation of any amount. There will be a live DJ, the beCAPTURED photo booth, henna tattoos, giveaways and more.